By MOFFAT CHAZINGWA? –
THE Mine-workers Union of Zambia (MUZ) has counselled the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) members to look at the bigger picture of ensuring national stability and unity as they deliberate internal affairs of the party at this weekend’s general conference.
MUZ president Nkole Chishimba said there was need for PF members to be mindful that the bigger responsibility shouldered by the party bordered on managing the governance affairs of the nation.
Mr Chishimba said this during a MUZ Press briefing over the country’s current political landscape, held at Katilungu House in Kitwe yesterday.
The MUZ president said on account of the PF being the party in Government, they found themselves in a peculiar position which required members to be above-board and view things beyond the spectrum of the party.
On account of that, PF members and delegates in particular were expected to conduct themselves in a responsible manner so as not to jeopardise the future of the country.
“We don’t expect the PF general conference to be marred with violence because this will have a negative bearing on the future of the country,” Mr Chishimba said.
He said there was need for delegates to the PF’s general conference to embrace love and unity for the good of the nation.
“There can only be one winner one victor in any given contest and so we expect even those that will not make it accept that reality and begin to support their colleagues for the purpose of unity,” he said.
Mr Chishimba said his insistence on unity in the PF should not be misconstrued that the union had an interest in the party but on the basis of governance of the nation.
He also stressed the need for political players in the country to focus on issue-based campaigns rather than dwelling on campaigns bordered on character assassination as they bid for the Republican Presidency in the forthcoming presidential by-election.